Driving Device Voltage Undershoot Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits (ICs) face challenges in managing voltage undershoot during transitions due to large driving currents, requiring external capacitors that increase material costs and occupy space, while also being inefficient in restoring voltage levels.

Innovation Solution

A driving device is designed with a voltage regulator, a voltage generator, and an N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOSFET) that provides a reference voltage to weaken voltage undershoot before the supply voltage is applied, eliminating the need for external capacitors and reducing material costs and space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a voltage regulator is used to step down high voltage to generate supply voltage, then the supply voltage can be generated, but voltage undershoot occurs due to large driving current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving currentVSAvoidvoltage undershoot

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The voltage generator pre-charges the output terminal to a reference voltage before the voltage regulator activates. This preliminary action ensures that when the voltage regulator subsequently provides supply voltage, the voltage undershoot is minimized because the output terminal already has a pre-established voltage level, reducing the sudden voltage drop that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If an external capacitor is used to stabilize voltage and avoid undershoot, then voltage stability is improved, but material cost and space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidspace occupied

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the voltage stabilization function from external capacitors and implements it internally using a voltage generator that provides reference voltage. This eliminates the need for external capacitors while maintaining voltage stability, thereby reducing both material cost and the space occupied by the module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage generator serves the dual purpose of providing reference voltage for normal operation and acting as a buffer to stabilize voltage during transitions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate external capacitors, reducing component count and space requirements while maintaining voltage stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an external capacitor is used to reduce voltage difference, then voltage difference is reduced, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage differenceVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the voltage difference reduction function from external capacitors and implements it through the voltage generator providing reference voltage to the output terminal. This internal implementation eliminates the need for expensive external capacitors while effectively reducing voltage difference, thereby lowering material cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively reduces voltage undershoot and minimizes the need for external capacitors, thereby lowering the material costs and space requirements of integrated circuits.

Implementation Method 1

The voltage regulator is configured to receive the first high voltage of the first high-voltage terminal. The voltage regulator is configured to step down the first high voltage to generate a supply voltage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage regulation:

Implementation Method 2

The voltage generator is configured to provide a reference voltage for the output terminal of the driving device. The reference voltage is substantially lower than the supply voltage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoltage generation:

Implementation Method 3

The first NMOSFET is coupled between the output terminal of the driving device and a low-voltage terminal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectField effect transistor conduction:

Data Source

PatentUS11687105B2Driving device

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A driving device includes a voltage regulator, a voltage generator, and a first NMOSFET. The voltage regulator is coupled between a first high-voltage terminal and the output terminal of the driving device. The voltage regulator receives the first high voltage of the first high-voltage terminal. The voltage regulator steps down the first high voltage to generate a supply voltage. The voltage generator is coupled to a second high-voltage terminal and the output terminal of the driving device. The voltage generator provides a reference voltage for the output terminal of the driving device. The reference voltage is substantially lower than the supply voltage. The first NMOSFET is coupled between the output terminal of the driving device and a low-voltage terminal.